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Georgia

If you are facing accusations of a sex crime in Georgia, you are not only up against some serious legal penalties, but also some very sobering personal consequences as well. The stigma attached to crimes of this nature is unmatched. Sure, you could go to prison, but you could also lose the support of friends and family.

Charged with a Sex Crime? Please call (800)940-5488.

When you are accused of a sex offense, you need an advocate within the system, someone willing to stand up for you in court and represent your best interests.

Georgia Sexual Offenses and Penalties

There are many sex crimes under Georgia law. Here are just a few of those that are most frequently seen along with a brief description of the potential penalty. For more in-depth information on the charges you face, a consultation with a local attorney may be in order.

Rape

Under Georgia criminal statutes, rape is defined as having sexual intercourse with:

A woman against her will, or

A child under the age of 10.

This offense is as serious as they get. Technically, you could be sentenced to die for this offense, as the laws allow capital punishment or a life sentence as the most serious of penalties for rape. This is rare, however. But a lengthy prison sentence is not.

Ref: OCGA §16-6-1

Statutory Rape

Statutory rape is an offense defined as having sexual relations with a person under the age of 16. If you are over the age of 18, you can face 1 to 20 years in prison for this offense. If you are over the age of 21, that sentence is elevated to 10 to 20 years in prison.

The one exception to a felony statutory rape charge is when you are 18 years old or younger and the alleged victim is 14 or older and not yet 16. In cases like this, you face a misdemeanor charge and up to 1 year in jail.

Ref: UCGA §16-6-3

Sexual Battery

Sexual battery is defined as intentionally making physical contact with the intimate parts of another person without their consent. Intimate parts could be the genitals, buttocks, inner thighs, anus, or female breasts.

In general, this offense is a misdemeanor of high and aggravated nature, carrying up to 1 year in jail.

Ref OCGA §16-6-22.1

Aggravated Sexual Battery

A far more serious offense than sexual battery, aggravated sexual battery involves the penetration of another person’s genitals or anus with a foreign object without their consent. This is a felony that can result in a life sentence.

Ref: OCGA §16-6-22.2

Public Indecency

Public indecency may not be considered as serious as rape but it is still considered a sex crime. You could be accused of this crime if it’s believed that you engaged in any of the following in a public place:

Sexual intercourse

Lewd exposure of the sexual organs,

Lewd appearance in partial or complete nudity, or

Lewd caressing or fondling of another person.

In general, this is a misdemeanor offense, carrying up to 1 year in jail. However, if this marks your third or subsequent offense, you can face felony charges and a 1 to 5 year prison sentence.

Ref: OCGA §16-6-8

To know for certain what you are up against and what can be done to avoid the worst penalties, contact us to speak with a criminal defense lawyer today.

Free Criminal Defense Consultation

Arrested for a criminal sex offense? Contact us for a free consultation on your case with a local criminal defense lawyer who can help. Call now for a confidential case evaluation 800-940-5488.

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